Monday, March 19, 2007

STAX @ SXSW

Arguably one of the biggests highlights of last week's annual SXSW Music Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas (one third of America's great music triangle -- the other two being Memphis, of course, and New Orleans) was Thursday night's Stax revue showcase at the legendary blues club, Antone's. With a line wrapped around the block, this savvy group of record collectors, fans and industry players were extremely eager to see a reunited Booker T and the MGs, William Bell, Eddie Floyd and Black Moses himself, Isaac Hayes.

For a couple of great reviews check out these two blogs from SXSW:

http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A25824On the back of every NBA locker room pass is language forbidding media members from asking players for autographs. Not that this is needed...Alas, no such decorum exists in the world of music, as witnessed Thursday afternoon in Austin, where an interview session with Stax Records artists devolved into a free-for-all of fandom and genuflection, a mostly baby-boomer group of reporters and critics having come armed with albums, CD jackets, and other appropriate canvases for their musical heroes to autograph.Of course, if anyone in Austin this week deserved to be worshiped and salivated over, it was these Memphis legends — the remaining members of Booker T. & the MGs, Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd, and William Bell. And they proved it later that night in a mostly excellent, occasionally thrilling revue-style showcase in celebration of Stax’s 50th anniversary, at blues warhorse Antone’s.

http://www.headphones-on.com/2007/03/thursday_notes_from_day_one.htmlStax 50th Anniversary Revue - Antone'sThe second I heard about this showcase, I knew I'd have to do whatever it took to get in the door and within a sight line of Booker T and the MGs. Luckily that was only an hour and a half in line and some patience.There will probably be someone in the audience who will write a thesis on this gig alone, so whatever I say here will not do it justice. Regardless, it was absolutely magical to be in the presence of such greatness. Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn alone could bring a tear out of a granite statue, but combined with Eddie Floyd, William Bell and Isaac Hayes... my knees were weak.